NHL: Red Wings win sixth in a row

OSGOOD AS IT GETS? Struggling Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood managed 21 saves to Wild goalie Josh Harding’s 39 saves, but it was enough to secure the game

AGENCIES , DETROIT

The Phoenix Coyotes’ Steven Reinprecht, left, celebrates his goal against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo during the first period of their game in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday.

PHOTO: AP

The Detroit Red Wings beat the visiting Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Thursday to register their sixth consecutive victory and close the gap at the top of the Western Conference standings.

With the score tied at 1-1, the Central Division-leading Red Wings (37-11-7) tallied three goals in the second period to pull away from the Wild and move within a point of the conference-leading San Jose Sharks.

Detroit’s consecutive win streak ties a season high and comes on the heels of a five-game losing stretch.

Jiri Hudler’s go-ahead goal at 10:22 in the second period was his 18th of the season and gave the Red Wings a 2-1 advantage.

“I think we surprised the goalie with that pass,” Marian Hossa told reporters, after making an assist on the play. “Jiri was in good position to either shoot or make a play, and it was a good goal.”

Kris Draper and Ville Leino followed with scores over the next seven minutes as the aggressive Red Wings sent 43 shots at Wild goalie Josh Harding.

Harding finished with 39 saves for Minnesota (28-23-3), while Detroit goalie Chris Osgood had 21 saves in an improved display.

The 36-year-old Red Wings goaltender has struggled recently and entering the contest he had allowed three goals or more in his last seven starts.

“It was the worst I’ve played for this long of a stretch in my career,” Osgood said. “There’s a lot more to goaltending than just stepping on the ice.”

“Mentally I had to go out there and realize the weight of the world is not on my shoulders. I have great teammates and I’m supposed to come out here and have fun. No matter what that’s the way I have to approach it,” he said.

Detroit’s Mikael Samuelsson’s opened the scoring 9:26 into the contest before Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns tied things up six minutes later.

Mikko Koivu produced the final score of the game, a shorthanded goal with 9:35 remaining.